In a display cabinet on the elevated floor of the MCG sits a vibrant pink outfit performed in by Robbie Williams. His show in front of a hundred thousand attendees was hailed as a major hit.
Perhaps you don't like Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music known to man. Or you could adopt a balanced view, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that enjoyment can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce literature or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Long Game
The traditional format boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by the environment.
The climate, the hour of play, the cricket ball – the variables are numerous. Crucially is the playing surface.
If Test cricket is art, the wicket is the foundation on which the cricketers craft their legacy.
An Abstract Contest: The Melbourne Spectacle
The fourth Ashes Test between the old rivals was an abstract version of cricket, the established format dismantled and reassembled in abstract form.
This is not a endorsement of the wicket which yielded a win and the another short match of the series.
Allowing excessive grass on the pitch, causing a cascade of wickets tumbling in less than a brief period, is not a fair contest between bat and ball.
A Diverse Legacy: The Essence of Test Cricket
But any idea this was a diminished spectacle, one that should be marked with an asterisk as not a proper Test, is mistaken.
Test cricket is a rich tapestry, over two thousand matches and still growing. On occasion, like in Melbourne, the ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it grips and turns on a dry surface. At other venues, the pitch is dead, other times it explodes.
The exciting finishes are even more exciting because of the investment devoted during quieter periods.
Problem Solving: The Real Challenge
Specific conditions are accepted more freely than others.
The debate in at the MCG was that the contest was weighted unfairly towards the bowlers. That the best players were hindered from playing their natural game.
The format is about adapting to challenges – assessing the situation and adapting accordingly. The top two individual innings were made by world-class players. One side was less disciplined than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Attempt to convince the fans who have endured 18 winless matches that this lacked spectacle.
In a corner of the MCG, a sea of people made noise and sang their songs, fostering a party atmosphere in a heartland of sport.
There was belief as the attack surged, impetus when batters scored quickly, and rapturous celebration when the result was confirmed.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The Melbourne has previous experience with difficult wickets. Eight years ago, a Test there featured a strip with the character of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a slog, with few wickets and interminable tedium. This recent match and that drawn affair are polar opposites of the range – both are not perfect, yet value can be found in each.
Deep into the series into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the collective consciousness.
"This isn't the death of the long game at all," commented a veteran. "Fans who have been fortunate to see these short time have been experienced some real entertainment. Different entertainment."
Signs of Progress: A Glimmer of Hope
In the preparation to this match, the skipper addressed the media like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his shoulders.
The team delivered for him, restoring the joy to his countenance.
Emerging talents delivered with vital performances. These are incremental gains, hardly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a foundation to develop from.
At the very least, this MCG win is added to other memorable performances in similar circumstances.
As the supporters departed into a glorious Melbourne evening, the squad gathered on the field to commence their own celebrations.
Enjoy the drink, lads. This victory was hard-fought.
